Expected crowd moves caucus

Saturday

Dec 1, 2012 at 11:59 AMDec 1, 2012 at 12:00 PM

Lois Westermeyer

The upcoming Pontiac Township Republican Party caucus is expected to draw between 200 to 300 voters, which has forced a change in location, party officials said Friday.Set for Tuesday at 6 p.m., the caucus was to be held at Pontiac City Hall Chambers, but a contest for one township position has created a lot of interest and the caucus has been moved to St. Mary’s Community Room. Registered Republicans who reside in Pontiac Township and plan to attend should use the entrance at 501 N. Chicago St.John McGlasson, chairman of the Livingston County Republican Central Committee, said most caucuses, held every four years, draw about 10 people and conclude very rapidly. However, he doesn’t believe this will be the case Tuesday, as two candidates have come forward for the position of road commissioner.Chuck Raube, who has held the post for 20 years, is retiring. Candidates who have announced their interest in the position are Robin Bohm and Bill Frazier.Unlike a primary or general election, candidates for the township positions do not have to file candidacy papers. They simply need a nomination at the caucus, a second to the nomination and a vote.“These are the two candidates we know about. However, any registered Republican could come in and receive a nomination or make a nomination. There could be more. I just want to make clear the Republican Party is not endorsing either candidate,” McGlasson said emphatically. “Our role is to hold the caucus, not endorse any candidate.”McGlasson said he and Township Supervisor Louis Lyons have also adopted rules of procedure for the event, as required by the Illinois Board of Elections.The IBE also required a 10-day notice first announcing the caucus be published, with the state setting the deadline for Nov. 24. Pontiac Township did not publish a notice in the Daily Leader, but Lyons and McGlasson both stated it should have been and was the responsibility of the township clerk. They did not know whether it had been in another publication. Notices for Avoca, Nebraska, Owego and Saunemin townships were published by the required date.“I don’t know what happened, but I do know we are publishing the change in place, giving as much notice as we can,” McGlasson said.“The road commissioner is the only position I know that has a challenge. If the other positions do not present challenges, we will dispense with them first. Then we’ll wait for each of the two road commissioner candidates to be nominated and give them each a chance to speak before voting.”Attendees will be asked to write a name on a ballot and submit it for an official count.Lyons said other positions up for vote include his own, as well as township clerk, township assessor and four township trustees. Lyons, Clerk Dan Gschwendtner, Assessor Gary Vilsoet and Trustees William Cole, Karen Cochran, Troy Harms and Jack Vietti are all seeking to retain their positions. In addition to being nominated, a candidate for assessor must file a statement of economic interest, while a candidate for clerk must file a notice of obligation to comply with the Illinois Campaign Financing Act.All township positions are considered part-time, with holders allowed to have other employment. Some of the positions require more time spent on the job than others.The positions pay $19,700 for supervisor; $2,500 for clerk; $30,000 for road commissioner, $25,000 for assessor; and $900 for trustee.Lyons said he is at the township office, located at 320 W. Madison St., most days, while the assessor and road commissioner positions are also more demanding.“We have to assess property in Pontiac and maintain township roads, but our biggest area is general assistance to those in need. That might be help with rent, help with a bill, groceries or whatever. There is so much need, people just don’t realize,” Lyons said.“A man came in whose wife had just died. He needed help with cremation costs, Social Security and family court matters. Every day it’s something different.”